School bells are ringing today but how are your children being educated? This pandemic has served up a variety of ways for schooling. Some students will actually get to go into the classroom; some will be in a classroom part of the time with remote lessons the rest of the day; while others will have all remote learning.
It's not an easy process to navigate. Parents are stressed with these new systems of learning.
One thing you can do as a parent to make remote learning more efficient is to set up a special "learning space" for your students. You don't need to have a large area to do this. The one thing the student needs is a stable, flat surface with a comfortable chair to see the computer and do the work as they are taught.
This space can get as intricate as you’d like. You can create an entire room or portion of a room to meet the needs of at home learning. You can also set up the end of a table or the corner of a room. Keep it simple. Keep it consistent. Make it fun. Remember this is an effort to reduce stress all around.
Make sure you include all the supplies the student will need, for example pens, pencils, crayons, highlighters, paper, tape, scissors, ruler, notebooks. The age and grade of your student(s) will dictate what items are needed. Older students will need more specific equipment like calculators. If you have an extra cabinet or drawer, you can make this the designated supply storage. If not, use a box, crate, or container – cardboard or plastic. Decorate these items with your child to personalize the space.
You want this space to signal to your child that it is time to concentrate and focus on his/her studies. If you are using a portion of a table, set out all the items the child will need. Make sure there is enough lighting. Use a chair that is comfortable for the student to be able to see the screen and write down notes.
When the online classes end and work is done for the day, if the student is using a shared space, the desk items can be packed up so the space can be used for its original purpose. Not only does this give the space back to the family but it also allows the student to get out of the “classroom” and have some down time.
There are so many different types of desks, shelving and accessories you can purchase to make a great space for your child to learn. There are also many creative ways to set up a learning space inexpensively. Use your imagination and understanding of how your child learns. Does he or she need absolute quiet with no distractions? Would being by a window be calming? Is having a favorite photo or picture soothing to glimpse at? Perhaps add a piece of the child's artwork to the space. The important thing is to make the space right for you and your student.